The Metric System
The Metric System
The Metric System is based on the
number 10 making conversion easy.
Each time you move the decimal left or
right in the units, you will move the
decimal point left or right one place in
the number you are converting.
L
K H D M. D C M
G
Distance :Kilometer, Hectometer, Decameter, Metric base (meter),
Decimeter, Centimeter, Millimeter
Weight :Kilogram, Hectogram, Decagram, Metric base (gram),
Decigram, Centigram, Milligram
Liquid :Kiloliter, Hectoliter, Deciliter, Metric base (liter),
Deciliter, Centiliter, Milliliter
King
Henry
Died
Monday
Drinking
Chocolate
Milk
K H D M. D C M
0 0 1
.001
1m.=________km
.
K H D M. D C M
1 00
100
1hm.=________m.
.
K H D M. D C M
81
.81
81cm.=________m.
.
G DCM
K H D M.
1.20000
120000
1.2 kg =_______cg
.
Distance or Length Comparisons
• A millimeter
(mm) is about
the thickness of
a dime.
Liquid Capacity Comparisons
• A centimeter
(cm) is about
the width of a
thumbnail.
Distance or Length Comparisons
• A meter (m) is about the same size
as a yard stick or 3 feet.
• A kilometer (km) is a little more
than one half a mile.
Liquid Capacity Comparisons
• A milliliter
(mL) is about 5
drops of water.
Liquid Capacity Comparisons
• A liter is a little
more than a
quart of milk or
half of a two
liter bottle of
soda.
Weight/Mass Comparisons
• A milligram
(mg) is about
the mass of a
speck of
sawdust.
Weight/Mass Comparisons
• A gram is about
the mass of a
paper clip.
Weight/Mass Comparisons
• A kilogram
(kg) is about
half the weight
of your math
book.
The Metric System
Metric Conversions
Ladder Method
Ladder Method
1
2
3
KILO
1000 HECTO
DEKA
100
Units
10
Units
Units
DECI
0.1 CENTI
0.01 MILLI
Meters Unit
0.001
Unit
Liters
Unit
Grams
How do you use the “ladder” method? 4 km = _________ m
1st – Determine your starting point.
Starting
Ending
Point
Point
2nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point.
How many jumps does it take?
3rd – Move the decimal the same number of jumps in
the same direction.
4.
1
__ __ __
. 2 .3 .
= 4000 m
Conversion Practice
Try these conversions using the ladder
method.
1000 mg = _______ g
1 L = _______ mL
cm = _______ mm
160
14 km = _______ m 109 g = _______ kg 250 m = _______
km
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm
6m
7g
698 mg
Metric
Conversion
Challenge
Write the correct
abbreviation
for each
metric unit.
1) Kilogram _____
4) Milliliter _____
7) Kilometer _____
2) Meter _____
5) Millimeter _____ 8) Centimeter _____
3) Gram _____
6) Liter _____
9) Milligram _____
Try these conversions, using the ladder method.
10) 2000 mg = _______ g
14) 5 L = _______ mL
11) 104 km = _______ m
15) 198 g = _______ kg
12) 2500 m = _______ km
16) 16 cm = _______ mm
13) 480 cm = _____ m
17) 75 mL = _____ L
Compare using <, >, or =.
25) 63 cm
26) 536 cm
29) 1,500 mL
6m
27) 5 g
508 mg
53.6 dm
28) 43 mg
5g
1.5 L
30) 3.6 m
36 cm